When you place your loved one in a nursing home, you do so with the assumption that he or she will receive care from the staff. There is an assumption that nursing home doctors, nurses and other employees will treat residents with dignity and respect, but that does not always happen. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect can occur in nursing homes, and victims may be too intimidated to speak out or incapable of doing so.
If your loved one lives in a New York nursing home, it may be important to be able to recognize the signs of abuse and neglect. This allows you to know if something is wrong, and it can help you advocate for your loved one if he or she is not receiving proper care. You have the right to hold responsible parties accountable for any mistreatment your loved one experienced.
Different types of nursing home abuse or neglect
It is not always easy to identify signs of abuse or neglect. As family of someone who is in a nursing home, it is important to understand all of the signs that something could be wrong. There may be physical signs, as well as other indicators that there is a problem. The different types of abuse or neglect in nursing homes include:
- Emotional abuse — This includes isolation, making threats, harassment and overmedication.
- Physical abuse — This includes causing physical harm to a resident by the staff or allowing resident-on-resident abuse to occur.
- Neglect — Signs of neglect include dehydration, malnutrition, pressure sores, broken bones and unexplained injuries.
- Sexual abuse — This can include unwanted contact and assault by the staff or other residents.
If you notice signs of any of the above types of abuse, you have the right to speak out on behalf of your loved one. A careful evaluation of the situation may reveal that your loved one has experienced mistreatment, and there are legal options available to him or her.
Fighting on behalf of your loved one
If you suspect abuse or neglect, you will benefit from taking immediate action on behalf of your loved one. You can seek insight from a professional regarding the steps you can take to hold the responsible parties accountable for what your loved one experienced in his or her nursing home. A civil claim may allow your family to seek restitution and recovery.